About the author

David Briginshaw

David Briginshaw joined IRJ in 1982 as associate editor, and was appointed editor-in-chief in 2001. He has travelled the world extensively interviewing many of the CEOs and senior managers of the world's railways and transit systems which has given him an in-depth knowledge of the global railway industry. David Briginshaw is currently consulting editor and associate publisher of IRJ.

March 31, 2015 | Middle East

GCC Railway making good progress

DETAILED engineering and design for the next sections of the 2177km Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail network will be completed this year, says Mr Ramiz Al-Assar, senior transport specialist for the Middle East and North Africa with the World Bank's Sustainable Development Department.

March 31, 2015 | Middle East

Qatar to launch main line project this year

THE managing director of Qatar Rail, Eng Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Subaie, confirmed that the first phase of Qatar's main line rail project will be launched this year.

March 26, 2015 | Track

SRO signs track upgrading contract

SAUDI Railways Organisation (SRO) has awarded a Riyals 160.2m ($US 42.7m) contract to China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) for the second phase of a project to upgrade the track on the freight line linking Riyadh, Harad and Dammam.

March 25, 2015 | Main line

Network Rail awards Heathrow link design contract

BRITAIN's infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has awarded a contract to Jacobs Engineering Group, United States, for surveying work and design for a new western rail link to London's Heathrow Airport.

March 25, 2015 | High-speed

Tours – Bordeaux maintenance software contract awarded

SOUTH Europe Atlantique Maintenance & Operations (Mesea), which will be responsible for maintaining the new 302km Tours – Bordeaux high-speed line when it opens in mid-2017, has awarded a contract to Carl Software for infrastructure maintenance software.

March 20, 2015 | Financial

Storm damage, strikes and bus competition cut DB profits

GERMAN Rail (DB) recorded a 5.7% reduction in Ebit to €2.1bn in 2014 despite a 1.5% increase in total revenue to €39.7bn.

March 12, 2015 | Europe

DSB secures new 10-year operating contract

DENMARK's Ministry of Transport has agreed a new 10-year contract with Danish State Railways (DSB) to operate passenger train services on the national network until 2024.

March 12, 2015 | Signalling

Adif AV awards ETCS Level 1 contract

SPAIN's high-speed network infrastructure manager, Adif AV, has awarded a €29.6m contract to a consortium of Thales and Bombardier to install ETCS Level 1 on the 210km Valencia - Vandellós section of the Valencia - Barcelona Mediterranean Corridor.

March 12, 2015 | Rolling stock

Abellio finalises ScotRail train order with Hitachi

ABELLIO, which is due to take over the seven-year ScotRail franchise on April 1, has signed a contract with Hitachi Rail Europe for the supply, and maintenance for 10 years, of 70 EMUs. The deal will be financed by Caledonian Rail Leasing.

March 12, 2015 | Light Rail

Delayed LRVs to enter service in Hannover

RESIDENTS of Hannover are finally set to ride the first of the city's new fleet of TW 3000 LRVs on Sunday March 15 just over a year since free demonstration trips took place and faults with the vehicles were subsequently discovered.